Roche JS, Philyaw-Kotov ML, Sigel E, et al. Implementation of a youth violence prevention programme in primary care. Inj Prev. Jun 2022;28(3):231-237. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044293
This study provides data from a pilot effectiveness-implementation trial of a violence prevention program for teenagers (SafERteens). SafERteens is a single-session violence prevention intervention conducted in the emergency department. Phase 1 of this study gathered feedback from medical providers, social workers, and administrators to identify key barriers and facilitators. This information was used to tailor training and implementation of a primary care version of SafERteens. In phase 2, clinic staff were trained, and the sample was recruited. In phase 3, maintenance aims were examined. In phase 1, the need for a single-session violence prevention intervention was affirmed by clinic staff. Feedback was used to adapt the toolkit and to determine appropriate staff to assist with screening tasks. Staff outside of the clinic were needed to administer screening and intervention implementation. In phase 2, training was administered, and follow-up calls were initiated weekly to workshop barriers to site-specific program delivery. In phase 3, reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance were assessed. Most (86.6%) participants felt that SafERteens was useful, and said they would recommend the session to a peer. All sites that received a training session delivered the intervention using the altered web package. Intervention fidelity scores were high, with MI competence (measured by MITI-4) mean global ratings = 4.03. Staff indicated a desire to continue delivery of SafERteens at both local and university-associated youth clinics. Reductions in substance use consequences and non-partner severe aggression were maintained three months post single session.